RELATING TO VETERANS CEMETERIES.

HB1058

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1058

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO VETERANS CEMETERIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION 1.
�
The purpose of
this bill is to establish
the
veterans cemeteries
board,

composed of representatives from federal, state, and county departments
and
agencies,
to provide
veterans cemeteries in the State

with
guidance,
education, technical assistance, and other support
to
ensure
compliance with standards set by the National Cemetery Administration
of the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
.

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SECTION 2.
�

Chapter 363, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section
to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

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"
�363-
��
��
V
eterans cemeteries
board
.
�
(a)
�
There shall be established
the

veterans cemeteries
board
within the office
in
the department of defense for administrative purposes only.
�
The

main responsibilities
of the
veterans cemeteries
board shall be as follows:

����
(1)
�
Identify compliance issues

faced by veterans cemeteries in the State
, resources needed, and
challenges encountered by departments or agencies that manage veterans
cemeteries and work collaboratively to resolve issues;

����
(2)
�
Devise solutions to address the issues
identified under paragraph (1)
and implement

the
solutions through a cross-representation of the state and county
departments and agencies on the board;

����
(3)
�
Seek resource solutions including
funding, legislative initiatives, and inter-
governmental

program support; and

����
(4)
�
Interact and invite interested
community agencies, organizations, stakeholders, and concerned veterans and
citizens to participate in discussions and board meetings.

����
(b)
�

The veteran cemeteries board shall be comprised of the following
members:

����
(1)
�
The
director, or the director's designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the
board;

����
(2)
�
A
representative of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific by invitation
of the director;

����
(3)
�
The
director of the department within the county of Maui responsible for operating
and maintaining the county's veterans cemeteries, or the director's designee;

����
(4)
�
The
director of the department within the county of Hawaii responsible for
operating and maintaining the county's veterans cemeteries, or the director's
designee;

����
(5)
�
The
director of the department within the county of Kauai responsible for operating
and maintaining the county's veterans cemeteries, or the director's designee;
and

����
(6)
�
The
cemetery operations manager of the Hawaii state veterans cemetery, or the
manager's designee.

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The members of the veterans cemeteries
board shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary
expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their
duties.
�
A majority of the members of the
veterans cemeteries board shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business
of the board.
�
A majority vote of the
members present at a meeting at which a quorum is established shall be
necessary to validate any action of the veterans cemeteries board.

����
(c)
�
The veterans cemeteries board shall develop
and make recommendations to meet compliance standards set by the National
Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
�
In developing the recommendation, the
veterans cemeteries board shall create, develop, and adopt a statewide
framework, which shall include:

����
(1)
�
A clear understanding of compliance
standards for cemetery grounds and maintenance set by the National Cemetery
Administration;

����
(2)
�
Strategies and recommendations for grounds
and maintenance best practices to address the varying challenges and conditions
of each cemetery location; and

����
(3)
�
A standardized system of data collection
and information sharing to support the intergovernmental efforts of the board.

����
(d)
�
The office shall provide necessary staff and
other support required by the
veterans cemeteries board

for the performance of its duties.
"

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SECTION
3.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

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SECTION
4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

BY REQUEST

Report Title:

DOD; OVS; Veterans
Cemeteries Board; Veterans Cemeteries

Description:

E
stablish
es

the

Veterans Cemeteries B
oard
within the Office of Veterans Services of the
Department of Defense
to provide veterans cemeteries in the State with guidance,
education, technical assistance, and other support to ensure compliance with
standards set by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.